This is the soundtrack to what is most probably the best rock movie ever made, Slade In Flame. The year was 1974 and Slade had done most things by then, toured the world, had records straight into the charts at number 1 (the first time since the Beatles had done one decade earlier), number one albums and a movie was the next most logical move. However, fans were not ready or not expecting the movie that hit the cinema. Exposing the dark side to the music business was a shrewd and brave move. Most fans were expecting `a hard days' night type of comedy.

Slovenly Recordings presents a new black jewel in the rough from Australia: Melbourne scuzz squad PRONTO, and their self-titled LP will steal your purse n’ pills before kicking holes in your speakers! “Pronto” hits hard from the gate with a rare breed of aggression that mercilessly attacks your better senses with scraping vocal chords, three or less guitar chords and brash, unrelenting rhythmic fuckery. This decroded piece of plastic devolves from hammering rock’n’roll into psyched-out meltdowns, never neglecting the breed of anthemic choruses that were perfected during the first wave of UK punk in a twisted post-punk application. Pronto is making good with ruthless threats of thuggish damage. They’re knocking at your door, and you need the hurt.release date: 02 October 2015Purchase it here: https://slovenly.bandcamp.com/album/pronto-pronto-lp

Classic Rock influences such as the Beatles, Bowie, The Beach Boys, Todd Rundgren, Jason Falkner, Cheap Trick , and Jellyfish, seamlessly pervade their music. The group’s songs convey a new hipness and stylistic flair that give them their own niche in today’s rock & roll landscape.

With their sophomore effort, "Super Famous", The Super Fuzz maintains their 70's influence but this time combines it with an alternative edge of 1990's and 2000's indie and alternative sounds (think Fastball or Redd Kross). Most of the new tracks clock under the 3.00 minutes and the material is more concise than their previous release from 2012 ("Art Noise"), but also more uptempo with their trademark lush harmonies still perfectly in place.Catchy choruses, frantic crunchy guitar riffing and a gift for writing instant power pop hits.Purchase it here : http://thesuperfuzzmusic.com/music

Friday, September 18, 2015

The Texan husband and wife duo of Burette and Gabrielle Douglas (aided by Josh Daugherty & Todd Harwell) are the creative core and identity of The Cush, formed in Dallas, TX in 2000.

They have returned with their 4th LP, "Transcendental Heatwave" (Follyphone Records), an album that takes the listeners on a cosmic journey to 90’s shoegaze (the opening track "Heavy Psych" could have been featured on any of My Bloody Valentine's records) and beyond (the brilliantly hypnotic "Broken radio").

The signature sound of this Lone Star State band is made of vintage tape delays, twang, reverb, Fuzzy guitars and ethereal female/male vocals.Favorite tracks : "Broken Radio", "Phantom Girl" and "Summer's Gone" Purchase it here: http://store.bandwear.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=557_558

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

You Are The Cosmos Records will be releasing on september the 21st this two-disc, VINYL-ONLY compilation that brings together the cream of Blue Ash's extensive recordings. Features 24 tracks, including "Baby I Just Want You" and "Smash My Guitar." Comes with a bonus 4-track acoustic 7". And, in case you’re wondering, a lot of the tracks are from the long out of print Not Lame's "Around Again" collection, except that "Elementary Dr. Watson", "It Don't Bother Me", "If I Were Ever Minus You", "Everywhere i Go", "A Million Miles Away", “Make Sure You Give It Back", and "Instantly I Knew I Loved You" have never been released anywhere. None of these recordings has ever been on vinyl and "Smash My Guitar" is different version from the” No More No Less” recording.GET IT HERE : http://www.youarethecosmos.com/product/hearts-arrows

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Oops Baby Records from Brooklyn, New York, recently released “Can Do Easy”, the sophomore effort and long-awaited follow up LP to The Barreracudas critically acclaimed debut LP "Nocturnal Missions" (2011)

Atlanta's quintet which includes members hailing from Gentleman Jesse and His Men, Beat, Beat Beat and The Hiss, delivers a fantastic old school super hooky power pop blend , that brings to mind all the great seventies poppers like Cheap Trick, the Shoes, the Raspberries, the Dwight Twilley band and also the dirty glamers like Sweet or Slade.

The 12 tracks on this record clock under 31 minutes but all the songs here are catchy as hell and they prove to be a lesson in songwriting that should benefit to all of the glampoppers wanna-bes around the world who cannot write half a good song! The record features a revamped version of last year’s “Promises” single, which got much airplay through the fine folks at WFMU – rising to #1 on the WFMU charts - and beyond.

The guitars on this record have just the right crunch and the loud and punky production totally fits these perfect power pop songs! “Can Do Easy” is the most fun album of the year, from the foot-stomping opener of “The Jerk” to the humorous howl of “Shampoo” to the heartbreaking melodies of “Dreaming”… these are soon to be classic rock ‘n’ roll songs!

When Rich Rags relocated from New York city to London, he found himself working at the (now dead and gone) 12 BAR in Denmark Street, Soho (where the front cover photo of the album was taken). He got acquainted with a lot of musicians and after various changes he finally managed to put together the band who recorded this amazing debut full length.

This is how Rich tells it in his own words: "As a writer and musician, i've been influenced by powerpop band s like The PLIMSOULS, punk like JOHNNY THUNDERS AND THE HEARTBREAKERS, whatever you wanna call THE REPLACEMENTS and my old teenage make-out sound tracker TOM PETTY. That all shows up a bit in various doses. But there's something I wanted to capture as well; there is a feeling ya have as a teenager when you're cruising around in your buddy's car late summer. Summer's almost over. You'll both move on. You'll have to. You know it this time. But you'll remember the song playing on the radio and your pal. The mistakes and the plans.The GOOD times too.I felt it then. I felt it in New York. I felt it when Soho died. And I wrote some songs about it."

What you have here are 11 original songs, soon to be classics, of super catchy, fun, addictive, powerful rock'n'roll with great vocals, driving guitars and an ever pulsating rhythm section.

SEPT 19 London - The Castle North Acton Acoustic show with Fastlane Roogalator for F**CK CANCER AT THE CASTLESEPT 25 London - Jubilee Club Barfly Camden with BITERSOCT 24 London - Some Weird Sin at The Finsbury Pub with Johnny ThrottleOCT 31 Wolverhampton - Slade Rooms HALLOWEEN opening for Ginger WILDHEARTNOV 21 London - Boston Arms with Eureka Machines

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Liverpudlian Mark Pountney's sophomore album, the aptly titled "Mark II" released earlier this year, is a splendid collection of various tunes with an amazing 60's vibe. On this record, Mark managed to capture the spirit and the sound of the sixties like no one else.

Here is what Mark told yours truly about this record : "My first band was called the Yarbles (a reference from the film A Clockwork Orange) this later changed to the Marbles. The line up included Edgar Summertyme on bass (The Stairs, Paul Weller, St Etienne) and, for a short time, Russell Pritchard (The Zutons and now with Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds).

The songs I wrote and performed, at that time, now appear on "Mark II". Studio time was expensive back then so we only cut a few demos. I thought the songs still had some mileage so began re-recording them last year. I'm not with a band at the moment so I played all of the instruments myself and also took care of the recording and production. So "Mark II" was like taking care of unfinished business. It helped me improve my musicianship and technical skills.The album covers for "Mark I" and "Mark II" were designed by my Dad, Derrick."

As far as plans for the future are concerned Mark adds: "The last couple of years have been important - particularly in terms of recording. I hope to put an album out each year. I'm half way through "Mark III". This will be a blend of the Powerpop and the Americana styles and will bring things more up to date. I have around 200 songs and there are still a few from the early days that I'd like to revisit."

The CD is on heavy rotation here at the Rat house and it seems I just can't get enough of this Beatle-esque pop. So there is only one advice I can give to all the viewers of this blog: go and buy this brilliant record!

Duncan Reid and the Big Heads - "Bombs Away"

BABY SHAKES - Turn it Up

Tales of Treachery & The Nefarious Deeds of The Scurrilous Resurrection Men

Click on the cover to buy

Kepi Ghoulie - Lost And Lovin' It!

Click on the cover to buy

Los Pepes - Los Pepes For Everyone

Click on the cover to buy

THE ROLE MODELS - "Forest Lawn"

Click on the cover to buy

Juvie - You ain't gonna Rock and Roll no more

Click on the cover to BUY

SEVEN LONG YEARS - Love me now and hate me later

Click on the cover to buy a LOSSLESS version

The BACKSEAT ANGELS : Saturday Night Shakes

click on the cover to buy!

Thee MARTIAN BOYFRIENDS! BACK FROM PLANET FUZZZZZ

I've been ranting about these little green men with a huge organ for months, now it's time for you to go and buy this stuff. This is simply the best 60's garage band ever. And remember where you read it first! NO HUMAN WILL GET OUT ALIVE....